A genetic collection of the genus Pelargonium L’Herit. ex Ait., with 40 % stock represented by Pelargonium
grandiflorum hybridium hort., is originated at the Federal Subtropical Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The main collection varieties, including Aristo, Elegance, Candy Flowers, Hazel and Bermuda, are foreign selections attaining their best qualities under optimal soil and climatic conditions. Cultivation in humid subtropics disturbs their growth and development, at the same time as deteriorating their productivity and ornamental value. The research aimed to study the hybrid stock towards the selection of hardiest, most ornamental and long-flowering forms corresponding to a specified variety model. The variety model developed for Russian subtropic agroclimate incorporated a main set of economically valuable and adaptively significant traits. Over 30 varietal crossbreedings have been conducted to select for promising recombinants and hybrid families. A high variability of phenotypic ornamental traits has been observed in the crosses offspring. We identified 15 promising hybrids from the total morphological trait combination. Adaptive selection against stress factors has been proved effective. The most successful combinations were Hazel Ripple x Yashma, Hazel Cherry x Rozovyy Briz and A. Darling x Rozovyy Briz. A subset of elite forms (Kd-15-43, Kr-16-28 and Kc-18-22) maximising the number of significant breeding traits have further been selected towards a higher total score (≥95). K.j.-17-15, Kq-18-04 and K.ya-16-03 were recognised promising for large-flowered form selection. The Yagodnyy Tsvet variety, Kv-18-01 and K.d.-18-09 hybrids (over 35 inflorescences) have been identified as sources for high flower production. K.p-17-65, Kr-16-28 and Kc-18-22 were the hybrids with flowering period exceeding 100 days. All crosses were based on Hazel as a maternal form sourcing the trait.

In a model study, we analysed the impact of humic acids (HAs, 500 ppm) on the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs; Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn) in roots and aboveground organs of the annual ornamental plant Tagetes patula (Scarlet variety) cultivated on the Terra Vita nutritive substrate used in modern cultural landscape mulching to imitate the upper fertile root layer (UR-RAT) of contaminated urban soils in megacities. Plants were grown in full photoculture (at no sunlight) in pots placed in a closed grow box, maintaining internal microclimate. A modern HLG Quantum Board QB288 V2 Rspec LED panel enabled with vegetation modes was used as light source. HMs were introduced in substrate as aqueous saline. Each setting was quadruplicated. Total experiment duration was 30 days. Tagetes patula was proved a particularly effective phytoextractor of Zn applied at 40 mg/kg (p<0.01). At the same time, the plants showed high tolerance to toxic growth inhibition (in biometry of the above- and underground organ length and mass) and preserved external aesthetics. Metals were further graded by phytomass accumulation as follows: Cu>Pb>Ni. Ni at 30 mg/kg had a major impact on plant weight and length, which sets off the variety as a sensitive phytoexcluder for this metal. HAs increased aboveground mass in all settings and decreased the HM mass impact. A sharp root mass reduction was observed in combinations of the two factors (HMs+HAs), which was clearly reflected in impaired root mass in zinc settings. A single metal addition reduced the mass by average 12.0 % (p<0.01) vs. control (no HAs or HMs), whilst a combined HAs+HMs administration induced its 65.0 % reduction (p<0.01). The results obtained indicate a good root buffering capacity for HM translocation from the rhizosphere to aboveground parts. In general, HA usage is promising for creating the green space and phytoremediation of urban HM-contaminated soils.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of national scientific and technological advances by technological design to manifest the demand for organisation processes remodelling towards the methods and approaches of the sixth design, especially in biotechnology. The article defines terms such as nursery, biologisation, promising technology and resource conservation. We analyse the fruit crop seedling production and structure of nursery-specific processes. We determine the main agrocenotic components most susceptible to chemical and technogenic impacts. Studies of soil fertility and biota prioritised the challenge of declined soil activity and biogenicity. We establish that an increased chemical pressure on fruit nursery agrocenoses leads to disturbances in benign microflora, microbiotic, acaro- and entomosystems, alters plant infection pathways and immune status. We report destructive manifestations of microbiotic, entomo- and acarosystems in agrocenoses via the emergence of new pathogenic fungal species, root rotting agents, vascular system necroses (tracheomycoses), resistant typically dominant pathogen strains, higher pathogenicity, the expansion of species list and ranges of bacterial communities, phytoplasmas, viruses and viroids, a more aggressive invasion of new pests, including stem pathogens, emerging hazardous adaptations in economically impactive phytophages. Furthermore, we consider the scientific and practical issues in fruit crop reproduction: sweeping off forms (genotypes) from selection, changes in infection pathways in candidate parental plants, reduced “plant — external environment” adaptation, impaired plant immunity under climatic and anthropogenic stress, selection of candidates with a higher production value under environmental stress burden, reduction of best-quality planting stock, seedling root system retardation, massive crown invasion with fungal and bacterial agents, inadequacy of trait databasing for promising varieties and genotyping techniques. The priority role of agrocenotic biologisation in sustainable fruit nursery is substantiated through adopting modern approaches, especially in biotechnology, based on molecular biology, biochemistry and genetic engineering.

The research aimed to study the combined effect of inter-row sodding with perennial grasses and biofertiliser applications (microbial preparations, MPs) on soil fertility and biological activity, as well as on mineral nutrition, productivity and quality of grapes. The experiment was conducted at a vineyard of the Shasla x Berlandieri 41B-rootstock Muskat Belyy variety nearby Sevastopol. The two-factor design was as follows. Sodding: with segetal vegetation (SV) or a mixture of seeded cereal and leguminous herbs (MHs). Microbial preparations: grapevine root system and soil bacterisation with MPs of various action, including Diazophyte nitrogen fixer, Phosphoenterin (PE) phosphate-mobiliser and a complex of microbial preparations (CMP) additionally containing Biopolycide bioprotector. In control, MPs were not applied with SV or MH sodding. Preparations were introduced in soil once a year prior to grapevine flowering at a dose of 200 g MP suspension per bush. Herbs were mown 5–6 times per season at 30–40 cm height. A combined sodding—MPs usage has been found to increase the nitrate content by 24–45, mobile P2O5 – by 16–21, exchangeable K2O – by 28–50 and organic matter – by 0.06–0.13 % relative to control. The greatest increase in N-NO3–K2O content was registered for the combination of MHs, Diazophyte and CMP; combined SV—CMP–MHs had the greatest impact on mobile P2O5 and organic matter. Biologisation enriched mineral grapevine nutrition, especially for P and K, as well as increased the bush productivity by 10–14 % (maximum in CMP–MHs) via improving the berry and bunch mass and grape quality via significantly increasing the sugar content and lowering acidity of wort. MHs–CMP maximized counts of agronomically valuable microorganisms involved in the organic and mineral nitrogen and phosphorus turnover (ammonifiers and oligotrophs by 120–130, amylolytics and phosphate mobilisers by 50–70 and oligonitrophilic by 50– 80 %). All usages contributed to soil enrichment with nutrients and humus.

Abkhazian mandarin crop is infected by over 50 pest species incurring marketable yield losses up to 83 %, which prioritises the development of new crop protection strategies that avoid organophosphorus compound usage leading to pest resistance. The studies were conducted during 2019–2020 in full-grown Citrus unshiu mandarin plantations at the Gulrypsh District of the Republic of Abkhazia adhering to the common protocol. Seven schemes were covered in study for the mandarin crop protection from rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora Ashmead and brown marble bug Halyomorpha halys Stål. Two schemes have been selected as optimised: scheme 5 (treatment 1 with Confidor Extra tank mix, 0.05 % WDG (imidacloprid) and 0.15 % Cytovit; treatment 2 with Vertimek tank mix, 0.1 % EC (abamectin, 18 g/L) and 0.15 % Cytovit; treatments 3--4 with Karate Zeon tank mix, 0.05 % OEC (lambda-cyhalothrin, 50 g/L) and 0.15 % Cytovit) and scheme 6 (treatment 1 with Metomax tank mix, 0.15 % SC (methomil 250 g/kg + bifenthrin 25 g/kg) and Vertimek, 0.1 % EC (abamectin, 18 g/L); treatments 2--3 with Karate Zeon, 0.05 % ISS (lambda-cyhalothrin, 50 g/L) and Vertimek, 0.1 % EC (abamectin, 18 g/L); treatment 4 with Karate Zeon, 0.05 % OEC (lambda-cyhalothrin, 50 g/L)). The schemes’ biological efficacy against mandarin pests was 80.0–84.2 and 81.3–87.7 %, providing for an average fruit weight improvement by 89.5 and 94.7 % vs. control, and 22.0 and 25.4 % vs. benchmark, respectively. Yield excess in the schemes was 85.7 and 91.7 % vs. control, and 36.8 and 41.3 % vs. economic cultivation, respectively. Class 1 fruits accounted for 63.3–65.6 % total harvest in schemes 5 and 6, whilst were not obtained in control.

The article presents a self-propelled aerosol hot fog generator robotic platform developed at the All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanisation. The study aimed to assess the distribution quality of hot fog in the fruit tree crown during technological plant protection procedures and to determine the platform’s effective motion modes. Field studies established the causes of chemicals loss during technological plant protective measures in the crown. We determined the effect of droplet size on leaf cover density and plotted the solution droplet penetration into the crown. In field experiments, we plotted the crown permeability by aerosol in transverse projection. A statistical analysis of factorial trials of the fog generator robotic platform for chemical plant protection revealed its most effective operation modes as follows: robotic platform speed 2.1 km/h, fog nozzle -- tree crown distance 1.28 m, working fluid flow rate 39.75 L/h. One-pass droplet density in equal penetration plane crossing the inter-row axis is 480 pcs/cm2. The row treatment from the other side doubles the droplet estimate. The study pinpoints and verifies advantages of the developed aerosol hot fog generator robotic platform in an orchard setting. The field data analyses suggest that this robotic system meets the technological requirements of fluid chemical plant protection at a high standard level.

Dehydrated pitted apricots are widely used as a ready meal ingredient, which renders control of their quality and safety a relevant issue. Pitted apricots are rich in sugars, moisture and organic acids that serve a good medium for microorganisms. Therefore, these products require presale processing. Microwave treatment proved effective for the processing of raw and finished food products. Its impact on microorganisms depends on variant criteria, including taxonomic affiliation, total counts, dielectric cell properties and the treatment dose. The research aimed to study death kinetics in the native dried apricot surface microflora and its growth during subsequent storage. In this respect, we have studied the microwave treatment impact on dried apricot surface microflora depending on treatment dose and determined the residual microflora growth rate during subsequent storage. The doses of 120, 180 and 240 kJ at a 200 W radiation power have been shown to reduce baseline contamination of dehydrated pitted apricots by three orders of magnitude. Statistical kinetics analyses demonstrated a retarded surface microflora growth during subsequent storage. Microwave doses of 120–240 kJ (accounting for ±0.4 lg CFU/g error) exhibited a similar microflora dynamics in subsequent storage. The exposure of dried apricots to a lowest microwave field of 120 kJ ensured stability of the product microbiological dynamics.